www.self.com:12 Stretches to Relieve Tight Shoulders

12 Stretches to Relieve Tight Shoulders

Stop slouching and loosen up.

Katie Thompson

As someone who spends a large part of my day hunched over a laptop, I am very familiar with tight shoulders. No matter how often I remind myself to sit up straight and maintain good posture, every now and then I look up and realize I’m huddled over with my spine rounded, shoulders high near my ears, and my neck in some wonky position so that my face is practically pressed against the computer screen. (I guess that’s my “concentrating” pose?) Without constant reminders (though, my Apple Watch‘s frequent reminders to stand up do help a little), it’s very easy to revert to a not-so-ideal sitting position. Combined with my propensity to carry no less than two very heavy tote bags around with me most days, my shoulders are often tight and achey.

Turns out, I’m definitely not alone. “Stiff, tight shoulders are one of the most common complaints among all people today—especially anyone who spends extended amounts of time slumped at a desk or sitting behind a steering wheel,” Brad Walker, Australian trainer and triathlon coach and director of education at StretchLab in Los Angeles, tells SELF. “This position causes our upper back to round forward, our chest to tighten, and our shoulders to lift and compress, all leading to very poor posture and eventual shoulder tightness and pain.”

It’s not just poor posture, though, that can make your upper body feel super tense. “Your shoulders may become tight as a result of poor posture, muscle tension, overuse (for example, too many push ups), or even stress,” Dan Giordano, D.P.T., co-founder of Bespoke Treatments Physical Therapy in New York City and Seattle, tells SELF.

Strengthening the core and upper body, including your back and shoulders, is a great way to improve your posture over time. And your shoulders specifically may benefit immensely from rotator cuff exercises, which strengthen and stabilize the small muscles that help keep the ball-and-socket joint in place. But if tightness is what plagues you, doing some shoulder stretches can provide short-term relief.

Also, it’s important to pay close attention to what you’re feeling. Tightness isn’t so much to be worried about, and stretching is a good way to improve that. Pain is another story. The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body (fun fact), which also means it tends to be unstable and prone to injuries. If you feel pain that’s sudden, sharp, or doesn’t start improving after a few days, it could be a sign you’re actually injured and should see a doctor.

If you’re just looking to stretch out your tight shoulders, try the stretches below from Walker, Giordano, Rachel Prairie (corporate personal trainer and programming specialist at Anytime Fitness), and Jacque Crockford, M.S., C.S.C.S. (exercise physiology content manager at American Council on Exercise). They target both the shoulders and surrounding muscles, like those in the neck, chest, and back, which all can contribute to tightness. Pick a few and add them to your recovery routine a few times a week or when you feel like you need them.

Modeling the moves is Caitlyn Seitz, a New York-based group fitness instructor and singer/songwriter.

1

Upper Trapezius Stretch

Start standing or sitting tall, and place one hand on your lower back, the other hand on the opposite side of your head.

Child’s Pose

Sit back on your heels (as best as you can) and fold forward, resting your belly on your thighs. Extend your arms out in front of you and rest your forehead on the floor. You’ll feel this stretch in your shoulders and back, in addition to your hips and glutes.

Gently press your chest and shoulders toward the ground to deepen the stretch.

Hold for at least 30 seconds.

Katie Thompson

4

Handcuff Drill

Lie face down.

Place both hands palms down on the back of your head. Your elbows should be pointed out to the sides. This is starting position.

Extend your arms in the shape of the letter “Y.”

Reach your arms as wide as you can and circle them down to the sides of your body with palms down. As soon as you can no longer keep your palms down, flip your hands over to palms up and bring your hands to the center of your lower back.

Circle your arms back in the reverse direction to return to starting position position.

Do 10 reps.

Katie Thompson

5

Thread the Needle

Start on all fours with your hands under your shoulders and hips over your knees.

Bend your left elbow as you gently lean into your right side; you should feel a stretch in the back of your right shoulder.

Hold for a few seconds then return to the starting position and repeat.

Katie Thompson

6

T-Spine Windmill Stretch

Lie on your right side with your knees stacked and bent at 90 degrees and your hips bent at 90 degrees. Stack your arms and hands together on the floor, extended out to the right. This is starting position.

Slowly open up your body, bringing your left arm up and over to your left side, to form a “T” with your arms. In this position, both shoulder blades should be planted on the floor.

Slowly reverse the movement to return to starting position.

Do 5-10 reps. Switch sides and repeat.

Katie Thompson

7

Elbow-Out Rotator Stretch

Start standing or sitting tall. Place your left hand on the middle of your back, palm and elbow pointing out.

Reach across the front of your body with your right hand and grab onto your left bicep or elbow.

Gently pull forward.

Hold for at least 30 seconds and then repeat on the other side.

Katie Thompson

8

Cross-Body Shoulder Stretch

Start standing or sitting tall. Grab one arm above your elbow with your opposite hand, and pull it across your body toward your chest until you feel a stretch in your shoulder.

Make sure to keep your elbow below shoulder height.

Hold for at least 30 seconds and then repeat on the other side.

Katie Thompson

9

Bent-Arm Shoulder Stretch

Start standing or sitting tall. Place one arm across your body and bend your elbow to 90 degrees, with your hand pointing up.

*Model Caitlyn Seitz is a personal trainer and group fitness instructor in both New York City and Brooklyn and a founding trainer at Brrrn. She’s also a singer/songwriter working on her debut album, coming out in 2019, and a burlesque and Gogo dancer in NYC clubs.

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